For a first playthrough, Capcom USA staff recommend Resident Evil 2 (2019) as a jumping-on point. That is a useful official suggestion, not a rule that every remake is better than its original. Choose a remake for updated presentation and controls; choose an original when you want to experience the series’ earlier design history. The best answer depends on which game you mean and what you want from it.
How to choose between a Resident Evil remake and its original
Think of the choice in terms of your goal, rather than assuming a remake simply replaces the game it revisits.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $18.13 | Buy on Amazon |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
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Resident Evil 4 Remake Strategy Guide | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Want a modern first playthrough? Start with Resident Evil 2 (2019), Capcom USA staff’s recommended entry point for new players.
- Want to explore the series’ older design? Play the original where you can access it. Its value is as a distinct historical version, not merely as a less polished copy of the remake.
- Want classic controls with a refreshed presentation? The enhanced release of the 2002 Resident Evil remake offers both tank controls and modern analog movement, along with adjustable camera and control settings.
- Choosing between the 2005 and 2023 Resident Evil 4? There is not enough comparative evidence here to name a definitive winner. Decide by your interest in the original’s place in the series or in playing its remake, without treating either preference as a proven design verdict.
Capcom USA’s October 18, 2024 guide says: “If you’re a new player, start out with Resident Evil 2 (2019). It’s a great jumping-on point for the series.” It is an official staff recommendation, not a claim that the same game suits every player.
Resident Evil (1996) vs. the 2002 remake
The 2002 game is a reimagined take on the 1996 original, rather than an identical edition with updated graphics. Its enhanced release improved in-game models and backgrounds and adapted the original 4:3 game to a 16:9 view using a scrolling camera. Importantly, it retains the original tank controls while also offering modern analog movement. Camera and control settings can be adjusted in-game.
#1 Best Overall
- TERRIFYING ZOMBIES WAITING AROUND EVERY CORNER -- Driven by insatiable hunger, these creatures act on instinct, gnashing their teeth, ripping at flesh, and devouring their victims. The new immersive camera lets you feel their fangs as they sink into your flesh.
- RACCOON CITY, REBUILT IN INTRICATE DETAIL -- The characters, environments, and story have all been rebuilt from the ground up to create a terrifying world that feels both nostalgic and new.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
This makes the 2002 remake the clearest choice if you want refreshed presentation but still want access to classic controls. If your goal is to see the earlier game as it originally appeared, seek out the 1996 version where available. Capcom’s 2014 announcement describes the enhanced release, but its platform list should not be treated as a current list of stores or availability.
Resident Evil 2 (1998) vs. the 2019 remake
The 2019 game is a practical modern entry point, and Capcom’s producer has described the creative balance behind it. In a June 13, 2022 PlayStation Blog post, Tsuyoshi Kanda, Producer at Capcom Co., Ltd., wrote: “It was difficult and at times contradictory to balance bringing new and fresh ideas that would modernize the game while keeping it faithful to the original.” He also described players returning to the Raccoon Police Department as Leon and Claire.
Rank #2
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
That framing supports calling the remake a reinterpretation: it aims to modernize while retaining a connection to the original, not to reproduce it exactly. Choose the 2019 game for a modern first visit; choose the 1998 original to experience its distinct period design. The available official descriptions do not establish a complete route-by-route comparison, so a detailed list of scenario differences would go beyond what they support.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) vs. the 2020 remake
Kanda described the 2020 remake as Jill Valentine’s last escape from a doomed Raccoon City, vividly reimagined with the RE Engine. That is useful context for the remake’s premise and approach, but it is not a comprehensive inventory of changes from Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999).
Rank #3
- CLASSIC RESIDENT EVIL GAMEPLAY -- Overcome chilling encounters in a relentless fight for survival that ratchets up the intensity through nail-biting exploration and gripping puzzle-solving.
- EXPLORE RACCOON CITY FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- Get even closer to the action with an over-the-shoulder camera and updated control scheme, drawing you into every bloodcurdling encounter.
- SURVIVE TOGETHER IN THE MULTIPLAYER MODE -- Bring up to four friends into the carnage with Resident Evil Resistance, a multiplayer survival horror experience included in the Resident Evil 3 package. Available as a PlayStation 4 title compatible on all PlayStation 5 devices. Includes code necessary for redemption, requires additional download not on disc.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Choose the remake if you want to play that reimagined version of Jill’s escape. Choose the original if you want to explore the earlier game on its own terms. The cited official account does not verify a full list of differences in locations, modes, or scenarios, so those details should not be assumed from this comparison.
Resident Evil 4 (2005) vs. the 2023 remake
The available official material does not provide enough comparative detail to recommend the 2005 original or 2023 remake as categorically better on design merits. If you want the original’s historical place in the series, choose the 2005 game; if you want to play the remake, choose the 2023 version. Those are goal-based preferences, not a claim that one has been proven superior.
Rank #4
- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind what led to the horrors at the Mansion in Resident Evil in this fan-favorite and popular prequel title to the series.
- Completely enhanced visuals - New high-resolution textures have been created from scratch, including 1080p support on next-gen consoles, while still preserving the classic appearance of the original release.
- Fan-favorite Resident Evil characters - Rookie S.T.A.R.S. member Rebecca Chambers and wanted criminal Billy Coen combine skills and buddy up to survive the undead and infected nightmares that await them.
- All original difficulty levels plus new Very Easy Mode for novice players
Platform and edition availability: check region and release date
Availability is edition- and region-specific. Capcom France announced on September 9, 2026 that Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition were scheduled for Nintendo Switch 2 digitally from October 16, 2026, with boxed versions scheduled for January 29, 2027. The announcement says the RE2 Deluxe and RE4 Gold editions include additional content. These are France-market dates and edition names; check the relevant regional store or retailer for local availability and schedule changes.
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